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The Raging 2020s: Companies, Countries, People—and the Fight for Our Future
The world needs a book that explains the car crash at the intersection of business, government, and everyday people. THE RAGING 2020s: Companies, Countries, People—and the Fight for Our Future, is that book.
For 150 years, there has been a social contract. Companies hold the power to shape our daily lives. Governments hold the power to make them fall in line. And the people hold the power to choose their leaders. But now, this balance has shaken loose. Today’s global companies are as powerful as countries and on issues ranging from privacy to sustainability to diversity and workers’ rights, we are more governed by companies than we are by governments. Whether the future looks more like Star Trek or more like Mad Max comes down to a very human question that we cannot outsource to algorithms: will we come together to rewrite our social contract? As the world rages amidst pandemic, rising inequality and increasingly frequent climate disasters, Alec Ross—New York Times bestselling author, former senior advisor to the secretary of state and distinguished visiting professor at the University of Bologna Business School—offers a path forward in THE RAGING 2020s.
Through interviews with the world’s most influential thinkers and stories of corporate activism and malfeasance, government failure and renewal, THE RAGING 2020s examines the economic and political forces that brought us to where we are today and looks at the trends shaping the decade to come.
An essential blueprint for the modern era, THE RAGING 2020s is a prescient, evidence-based, and wildly innovative accounting of what’s gone awry and what can be done.
For 150 years, there has been a social contract. Companies hold the power to shape our daily lives. Governments hold the power to make them fall in line. And the people hold the power to choose their leaders. But now, this balance has shaken loose. Today’s global companies are as powerful as countries and on issues ranging from privacy to sustainability to diversity and workers’ rights, we are more governed by companies than we are by governments. Whether the future looks more like Star Trek or more like Mad Max comes down to a very human question that we cannot outsource to algorithms: will we come together to rewrite our social contract? As the world rages amidst pandemic, rising inequality and increasingly frequent climate disasters, Alec Ross—New York Times bestselling author, former senior advisor to the secretary of state and distinguished visiting professor at the University of Bologna Business School—offers a path forward in THE RAGING 2020s.
Through interviews with the world’s most influential thinkers and stories of corporate activism and malfeasance, government failure and renewal, THE RAGING 2020s examines the economic and political forces that brought us to where we are today and looks at the trends shaping the decade to come.
An essential blueprint for the modern era, THE RAGING 2020s is a prescient, evidence-based, and wildly innovative accounting of what’s gone awry and what can be done.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published September 14, 2021
81 people are currently reading
2825 people want to read
About the author
Alec J. Ross
2 books241 followersAlec Ross is a New York Times best-selling author and Distinguished Professor at l’Universitá di Bologna
His book The Industries of the Future has been published in 24 languages and been a best-seller on 5 continents.
Speaking of Ross' new book The Raging 2020s, Adam Grant writes:
“Alec Ross fearlessly confronts one of the fundamental concerns of our time: fixing the broken social contract between people, business, and government. His book will challenge you to rethink some of your assumptions about democracy, capitalism, and globalization.”
Alec Ross is also Board Partner at Amplo, a global venture capital firm and sits on the board of directors for companies in the fields of technology, finance, education, human capital and cybersecurity.
His book The Industries of the Future has been published in 24 languages and been a best-seller on 5 continents.
Speaking of Ross' new book The Raging 2020s, Adam Grant writes:
“Alec Ross fearlessly confronts one of the fundamental concerns of our time: fixing the broken social contract between people, business, and government. His book will challenge you to rethink some of your assumptions about democracy, capitalism, and globalization.”
Alec Ross is also Board Partner at Amplo, a global venture capital firm and sits on the board of directors for companies in the fields of technology, finance, education, human capital and cybersecurity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 29, 2021
This is one of the best books I have read that describes not only the world we live in but also the world we are heading towards. If you want to wrap your head around that nagging sense that something is deeply wrong with the world today, this book is for you. In fact, anyone who has ever wondered how our country could experience such growth and yet such inequality in the last few decades must get their hands on this book. It is fun yet brutally honest, digestible yet clearly intellectually strong, and allows us to see around the corner for the next 10 years and beyond. Ross is equal parts humble and knowledgeable and is spot-on with his assessment of the future of the American social contract—it is at a fork in the road. If we want to be on the right side of that story, it is essential that Americans read what Ross has to say about it.
Ross’ analysis on shareholder primacy is a great example of how this book is a must-read for every American or anyone interested in the world. Unlike some other criticisms of modern American capitalism, Ross is critical and logical — this is not some fanciful crucifixion of capitalism. Ross gets to the point of the matter, it is shareholder primacy that has derailed our economic system, or as he puts it “the ugliest face of capitalism”. He explains the sound logic that encouraged shareholder primacy in the first place but shows us where it falls apart in practice and how that affects every single one of us. Ross is grounded in reality so he does not deny that there is a productive role for corporations, he simply claims that they need to accept heightened responsibility and that their occasional grabs for power deserve the same amount of suspicion and oversight any other institution move would receive.
Many of us have perceived the tensions detailed in The Raging 2020s but have not had the words to describe them. Ross manages to articulate these concerns in an accessible way. More than that, he identifies where solutions to these challenges will come from. This is crucial in a world where we seem to have many problems we’ve identified, yet a scarcity of solutions. For that reason, The Raging 2020s is the call to action we need right now and will one day be a book we all look back on and marvel at much it got right.
Ross’ analysis on shareholder primacy is a great example of how this book is a must-read for every American or anyone interested in the world. Unlike some other criticisms of modern American capitalism, Ross is critical and logical — this is not some fanciful crucifixion of capitalism. Ross gets to the point of the matter, it is shareholder primacy that has derailed our economic system, or as he puts it “the ugliest face of capitalism”. He explains the sound logic that encouraged shareholder primacy in the first place but shows us where it falls apart in practice and how that affects every single one of us. Ross is grounded in reality so he does not deny that there is a productive role for corporations, he simply claims that they need to accept heightened responsibility and that their occasional grabs for power deserve the same amount of suspicion and oversight any other institution move would receive.
Many of us have perceived the tensions detailed in The Raging 2020s but have not had the words to describe them. Ross manages to articulate these concerns in an accessible way. More than that, he identifies where solutions to these challenges will come from. This is crucial in a world where we seem to have many problems we’ve identified, yet a scarcity of solutions. For that reason, The Raging 2020s is the call to action we need right now and will one day be a book we all look back on and marvel at much it got right.
July 10, 2021
Somewhere around three quarters through this book, it occurred to me that it was such a useful evaluation of prevalent politico-economic systems that it was a shame to anchor the title so distinctly to the 2020’s. Then I realized that its main point is that right now we’re at a critical point of choosing which inflection will determine our future. Capitalism and government are working differently, having moved on from the classic models conventional wisdom presumes. Combined with a tidal wave of ecological change and the acceleration of technology, we truly are at a collective decision point that could mean continued progression for all people or vast misery for all but the most fortunate. This book is worth reading right now, to inform the dialogue we all need to have.
October 1, 2022
Stakeholder capitalism, unethical tax havens, the dramatic decline in the power of workers’ unions, China’s infrastructure and surveillance investments in Africa, all of this was new to me. This book really opened my eyes as to how much companies legitimately influence our lives and how we could all revel in the rewards of capitalism if tax avoidance was tightly controlled by a global minimum tax bracket, among other factors. Considering we are already dealing with the rage of the 2020s, this book is a guide on how everyone, no matter the societal status or place on the income ladder, can prosper with more push for government to take action.
October 27, 2021
What a great informative book. Many of us have perceived the tensions detailed in The Raging 2020s but have not had the words to describe them. Ross manages to articulate these concerns in an accessible way. More than that, he identifies where solutions to these challenges will come from. This is crucial in a world where we seem to have many problems we’ve identified, yet a scarcity of solutions. For that reason, The Raging 2020s is the call to action we need right now and will one day be a book we all look back on and marvel at how much it got right. Highly recommended.
August 12, 2021
If you, like me, feel that something is broken in today's society but can't quite diagnose the problem, you need to read The Raging 2020s. Ross shows how the inequality, dysfunction, and unrest we see across our society are all interconnected and offers a compelling argument for how we can begin attacking their root causes. I opened the book feeling overwhelmed by the challenges facing America today and closed the book feeling empowered to confront them head on.
Through entertaining stories and pointed analysis, Ross charts the steady rise of corporate power in the United States and the subsequent loss of workers' and voters' ability to shape the world around them. It is a complex story with many twists and turns, but thankfully, Ross manages to keep the reader from getting caught in the weeds. He brings wonky topics like tax policy, labor law, and economic theory down to earth and shows the very concrete impacts they have on the lives of real people. Rather than taking a sledgehammer to modern capitalism, which books of this nature tend to do, Ross makes an honest assessment of its shortcomings and offers clear arguments for how it can be remade to benefit everyone. Private businesses have an important role to play in building a more just and sustainable world, but first some important changes need to be made. His vision is hopeful yet practical, and one that I believe will resonate with anyone who cares about improving our collective future, regardless of their political bent.
I had the pleasure of reading the galley of the Raging 2020s, and I cannot wait to get my hands on an official copy. I already know I will be recommending this book to quite a few people. We find ourselves at a critical moment in history, and the choices we make today will determine whether the coming decades bring prosperity or chaos. We all must begin thinking about how we want that future to look, and the Raging 2020s is a great place to start.
Through entertaining stories and pointed analysis, Ross charts the steady rise of corporate power in the United States and the subsequent loss of workers' and voters' ability to shape the world around them. It is a complex story with many twists and turns, but thankfully, Ross manages to keep the reader from getting caught in the weeds. He brings wonky topics like tax policy, labor law, and economic theory down to earth and shows the very concrete impacts they have on the lives of real people. Rather than taking a sledgehammer to modern capitalism, which books of this nature tend to do, Ross makes an honest assessment of its shortcomings and offers clear arguments for how it can be remade to benefit everyone. Private businesses have an important role to play in building a more just and sustainable world, but first some important changes need to be made. His vision is hopeful yet practical, and one that I believe will resonate with anyone who cares about improving our collective future, regardless of their political bent.
I had the pleasure of reading the galley of the Raging 2020s, and I cannot wait to get my hands on an official copy. I already know I will be recommending this book to quite a few people. We find ourselves at a critical moment in history, and the choices we make today will determine whether the coming decades bring prosperity or chaos. We all must begin thinking about how we want that future to look, and the Raging 2020s is a great place to start.
September 13, 2021
I very much enjoyed Alec Ross's first book, The Industries of the Future. It was a thoughtful, insightful analysis of the impacts of our changing global economy on our communities, educational system and society. The Raging 2020s, shows a new level of mastery and maturity in not only understanding how our world is changing, but a confidence in recommending a pragmatic program for business, government and workers to re-strike a modern, future-focused balance of power and benefits.
Ross's analysis of the challenges of our 21st century are quite striking...we are so often used to looking a issues in isolation because of their complexity and nuance. Ross understands the complexity, but has created a very compelling perspective across the full range of our economy and society. He brings his narrative threads of corporations, government and workers together to provide a very persuasive program for how leaders, policymakers and stakeholders can frame their work towards a new 21st century compact.
He anchors his survey with over a 100 interviews that infuse his book with humor, compelling stories and a thumping beat of storytelling that propels you forward across the chapters. It is a wonderful read and should be on the desks of anyone who wants to make a difference. Very compelling and extremely well executed. Highest recommendation.
Ross's analysis of the challenges of our 21st century are quite striking...we are so often used to looking a issues in isolation because of their complexity and nuance. Ross understands the complexity, but has created a very compelling perspective across the full range of our economy and society. He brings his narrative threads of corporations, government and workers together to provide a very persuasive program for how leaders, policymakers and stakeholders can frame their work towards a new 21st century compact.
He anchors his survey with over a 100 interviews that infuse his book with humor, compelling stories and a thumping beat of storytelling that propels you forward across the chapters. It is a wonderful read and should be on the desks of anyone who wants to make a difference. Very compelling and extremely well executed. Highest recommendation.
September 13, 2021
So first, I have to be honest. When I signed up for this book in the giveaways I thought it was about the 1920s. I know. As my husband pointed out, the title clearly shows it is not. So I was a little thrown off. Then, I realized it was about economics. I haven't read an economic book since macroecon in 2001. So I feel like I have a very unique viewpoint.
This book is actually amazing and every American voter should read it. I understand quite a bit about the economy that I did not understand. The author explained, in a way I can not only understand but can articulate, how we got to our current state and where we need to go. When politicians discuss what they want to do, I truly believe I will be able to know whether it is a good idea.
And bonus, not boring. Read this book about the 2020s, not the 1920s.
This book is actually amazing and every American voter should read it. I understand quite a bit about the economy that I did not understand. The author explained, in a way I can not only understand but can articulate, how we got to our current state and where we need to go. When politicians discuss what they want to do, I truly believe I will be able to know whether it is a good idea.
And bonus, not boring. Read this book about the 2020s, not the 1920s.
September 10, 2021
The book addresses many topics we have all pondered. Ross has put pen to paper and provided the supporting documentation to back up his conclusions and recommendations. This is a must read as we head into the extremely contentious 2020s.
September 14, 2021
The Raging 2020’s is an exceptionally well written book that provides a sobering insight to the injustices that continue to occur in the United States. I, like many others, have felt somewhat incapacitated in regards to issues that face our society-issues that often seem to have no end solution in sight. As I read Ross’ book, I couldn’t help but feel an increasing sense of hope that these socio-economic discrepancies can be fixed by current and future generations.
As a young adult with limited knowledge on many of the topics covered in this book, I feel it is imperative for others like myself to read The Raging 2020’s, and to educate ourselves so that we can work towards a future of which we can be proud.
As a young adult with limited knowledge on many of the topics covered in this book, I feel it is imperative for others like myself to read The Raging 2020’s, and to educate ourselves so that we can work towards a future of which we can be proud.
September 14, 2021
Ross has a unique knack for telling stories about the beer truck teamster driver, the start-up defense entrepreneur, and the Italian belt-buying bachelor to illustrate the profound challenges of the 2020’s. A big think book that challenges you to think about how government and companies and labor should work in a more global and interconnected world. Ross isn’t afraid to tackle complicated subjects — like how corporations arbitrage the global tax system — and bring them to life with thorough and compelling explanations. Highly recommend!
September 16, 2021
The ills Ross examines - tax avoidance, corporate bailouts, massive inequality in wealth/income, etc. - are all things I've read about or heard about or argued about in recent years. This book does a great job of telling the story of the origins and impacts of these problems in an engaging, approachable fashion. I found it to be a great help in organizing my own thinking about these issues, and I am interested by the possible solutions he poses. I would highly recommend this book to anyone feeling confused and uncertain about the future (a common condition in the early 2020s!).
September 2, 2021
Alec Ross' The Raging 2020's is a must read. It has a nice balance of historical information, economic information, political information, and real life examples. This book takes a complex topic and makes it relatable to everyday life. It draws you in and invites discussion. I would like to see this book as a recommended text in our classrooms since the younger generation are the ones who will inherit these problems if we don't take action now.
September 19, 2021
Alec Ross has done a great job explaining the shift of power in the United States. It has gone from representing the interest of the everyday man to representing corporations who in turn control the governmental strings behind the scenes. The result is a shrinking middle class who find themselves struggling to make ends meet. His examples detailing how this shift has happened over time, as small as each event was, is eye opening to say the least. The first step to fixing a problem is identifying it. This book is the start. It is well written, insightful and easy to follow.
March 26, 2023
Excellent. Highly recommended.
January 29, 2022
This book is a must read for anyone who cares about the future of America and the world. That is, if your interest is in political science, IT (AI especially), economics, sustainability or climate change, government, world politics and world economy, labor, history (in the making), even farming.
I grew ever more concerned the further I read. Although the author, who has ample experience in these areas, tries to be optimistic that a solution or change of course can get us back on track before it is too late, still the book left me fearful, overwhelmed, angry, and astounded. I have never looked at this past 200 years with rose colored glasses, but there are things here that I only worried were true.
If you are a young person in Generation x or y or whatever, please read this and begin thinking of ways to make a change. It is your future here.
I grew ever more concerned the further I read. Although the author, who has ample experience in these areas, tries to be optimistic that a solution or change of course can get us back on track before it is too late, still the book left me fearful, overwhelmed, angry, and astounded. I have never looked at this past 200 years with rose colored glasses, but there are things here that I only worried were true.
If you are a young person in Generation x or y or whatever, please read this and begin thinking of ways to make a change. It is your future here.
October 11, 2021
Raging is right.
Every once in a while, you stumble on a book that lays out in an intelligent and comprehensive way the way that you, the individual feel about a particular topic, and for that, you, the individual are very glad, because the only way you knew how to express yourself about said topic is incoherent screaming. I can only thank Alec J. Ross for being the vector through which so many of my thoughts were conveyed.
The Raging 2020s is a deeply insightful look into what we the people and workers, our governments and nations, and our corporate entities, owe, as Chidi Anagonye and TM Scanlon would say, each other in the second decade of the 21st century, what we're not getting from the institutions tasked to be the stewards of the people they represent, and how we got here in the first place. Ross takes a very pro-person and pro-worker stance on things, a stance founded on an absolute mountain of research and solid historical storytelling, while all the while holding accountable all the ways in which corporations and governments have failed the people who are fighting like hell to uphold them. Touching on taxes, infrastructure, healthcare, and every other "week" you're sick of hearing about on Morning Edition, the book conveys the frustration so many people across the US - and indeed, the world - feel, all the time being very thorough and well-researched about it.
I laughed. I cried. I wanted to forfeit my United States citizenship and move to, I dunno, Denmark or something.
Every once in a while, you stumble on a book that lays out in an intelligent and comprehensive way the way that you, the individual feel about a particular topic, and for that, you, the individual are very glad, because the only way you knew how to express yourself about said topic is incoherent screaming. I can only thank Alec J. Ross for being the vector through which so many of my thoughts were conveyed.
The Raging 2020s is a deeply insightful look into what we the people and workers, our governments and nations, and our corporate entities, owe, as Chidi Anagonye and TM Scanlon would say, each other in the second decade of the 21st century, what we're not getting from the institutions tasked to be the stewards of the people they represent, and how we got here in the first place. Ross takes a very pro-person and pro-worker stance on things, a stance founded on an absolute mountain of research and solid historical storytelling, while all the while holding accountable all the ways in which corporations and governments have failed the people who are fighting like hell to uphold them. Touching on taxes, infrastructure, healthcare, and every other "week" you're sick of hearing about on Morning Edition, the book conveys the frustration so many people across the US - and indeed, the world - feel, all the time being very thorough and well-researched about it.
I laughed. I cried. I wanted to forfeit my United States citizenship and move to, I dunno, Denmark or something.
October 7, 2021
Phenomenal book that helps readers of all backgrounds make sense of the chaos that exists in the world today. Alec and his talented research team put a fine point on key issues facing the US and world and causes behind them, such as rampant income inequality or climate change, with an objective view that feels refreshingly uninfluenced by a political agenda. Stories across the book are artfully threaded through a theme of a need to shift from shareholder capitalism to stakeholder capitalism. The book brings in tangible examples of successes and failures from different companies and countries that gives us a glimpse of what the world could look like if policies and strategies are aligned towards a common good.
A must read for anyone interested in the evolution of business or politics.
A must read for anyone interested in the evolution of business or politics.
October 3, 2021
Alec Ross goes for something big: a grand theory of everything to explain our current socio-economic moment. He hits the mark.
Because of the cover, I expected the book to compare the 2020s to the 1920s. That's been the popular comparison lately, what with the current pandemic and the one a century ago. However, Ross's comparison to the 1840s is much more apt. The concept of an "Engel's Pause" – a period of time when technology has transformed our working world, but, as in the 1840s, the social safety net hasn't yet caught up – was enlightening.
As with any book that tries to tackle so much, it will be too vague on specifics for some people. But, if you've been looking for a book to help you wrap your head around all of this ~gestures wildly~ stuff going on, it's well worth the read.
Because of the cover, I expected the book to compare the 2020s to the 1920s. That's been the popular comparison lately, what with the current pandemic and the one a century ago. However, Ross's comparison to the 1840s is much more apt. The concept of an "Engel's Pause" – a period of time when technology has transformed our working world, but, as in the 1840s, the social safety net hasn't yet caught up – was enlightening.
As with any book that tries to tackle so much, it will be too vague on specifics for some people. But, if you've been looking for a book to help you wrap your head around all of this ~gestures wildly~ stuff going on, it's well worth the read.
January 1, 2022
A razor sharp evisceration of the failures of the current social compact between government, business and the people, the dire potential consequences of continuing along the current path and roadmap for rethinking the contract. Particularly insightful in pointing out that billions of people are effectively governed more by companies - than governments - and in fact the largest corporations are as powerful as governments. The chapter on the tax system - and the billions of dollars that not collectives in revenue every year because national tax structures have not caught up to state of multinational business, is particularly good. One of the best books I read in 2021.
September 22, 2021
As a former federal official, I’m often frustrated at how people do not understand the complex root causes of many of today’s challenges. If *only* a problem was caused by a malicious guy on the 10th floor, the rest of us could just stick a chair under his doorknob and save the day. But it’s a lot more than that. Thanks to his own experiences inside and outside of government and the private sector, Alec does one of the best jobs I have seen of explaining how we actually got here, and the relevant historical factors that led here. His call to action in the conclusion is clear and thought-provoking.
We had a saying when I was in government: “No one is coming, it’s up to us.” Alec’s final urge that “it’s up to us what 2030 looks like” is both frightening and accurate. I hope many pick up this book and start making choices for a better and different 2030 (and beyond).
We had a saying when I was in government: “No one is coming, it’s up to us.” Alec’s final urge that “it’s up to us what 2030 looks like” is both frightening and accurate. I hope many pick up this book and start making choices for a better and different 2030 (and beyond).
October 7, 2021
This is a very blue and timely book. The past 40 years have been a "trickle down" period where market forces were treated as the paramount solution to economic problems. Alec Ross argues the opposite with the viewpoint that it is time to stop this fixed pattern and intervene with government. This is very timely and somewhat of a manifesto of the Biden administration's current policies where "greed is good" has led to its eventual problems and the administration is trying to find solutions. The book offers examples of the issues and where they lead us as a country, especially their flaws. The flaws also follow with solutions. The future is uncertain but corrections are paramount to the business of democracy and the Biden vision is spelled out in this read.
July 21, 2021
The Roaring 2020’s, Companies, Countries, Pepple-and the Fight for Our Future, Alec Ross
I was so looking forward to reading this book because I thought it would be a factual representation of what is currently occurring and what I could expect in the future, as a result. I thought it would represent the lawlessness and irresponsibility, the pandemic and the economy. Instead, I found it to be a primer about left wing policies and almost nothing but propaganda, which perhaps, I should have expected. The book was written by an author who receives accolades from the progressive world, who is also a journalist that works for a left-wing, leaning newspaper, and is a Democrat who also served in Obama’s administration.
I should have realized that, in this, our current divided country, a left-wing author would at every turn, in any way possible, condemn contemporary capitalism and praise socialist programs. He encourages these programs even though their power and corruption providing them with excessive control, has seeped into many of the unions, corporations and government and has caused them to fail in their original purpose. One suggestion is made, in some circumstances, to remove those who have made themselves rich and self-important, and instead reinstall the workers at the top of the structure, since it is believed that they will be better able to promote and accomplish their demands. Yet the flip side is that they may be unqualified, and therefore I believe that their demands may not always represent the larger picture and might be based on selfish, sometimes irresponsible demands not good for America. Qualifications rather than diversity should be of the utmost importance.
In general, I am not in favor of big government, social media or unions, just for their own sake. Some small businesses often cannot survive their demands. It is the owner of a small business who takes all the risk, but it is the owner who is also expected to share the profits he earns, equally, with the workers who assume no more responsibility than their job description. I speak from experience since my father was driven out of business by the demands and strikes of unskilled workers who made more than he did when he finally had to walk away from the business he started. The teacher’s union is a perfect example of a union’s greed and corruption causing it to fail in its purpose. Students in America seem to receive a terrible education from unqualified and poorly educated teachers who do hardly anything but indoctrinate students with their personal propaganda. Yet these same teachers go on strike for benefits they claim will improve education, while they really demand benefits that they knew they were not entitled to when they took the job. Corporations may have grown too large, and may have too much control, but I believe that it is the fault of government regulators who refuse to rein them in and control their power because they indirectly benefit from that power. If government becomes too big and top-heavy, it does not fairly represent the people. So, while the corruption that has seeped into unions and government programs is criticized somewhat in the book, the overall emphasis seems to be on the continuation of a more progressive government with poorly run social programs, that promote sometimes undeserved worker’s benefits and community activism. The overall theme of the book feels like an effort to change America into a socialist country, although they have failed the world over. It encourages constant displays of outrage which boggles my mind.
So, I am indeed sorry, that about half way through, I decided to skim the rest of the book and had no change in my opinion. Whenever possible, the author’s left-wing, biased approach to policies somehow praised even the failed left wing programs and made a special point of criticizing and demonizing policies from the right side of the political spectrum, Although they were not always identified as such, they would be immediately identified by anyone who knew the difference. Without mentioning the Trump Presidency, the effort to help Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria was described as a massive failure. There was no attempt to present the truth. Supplies were not delivered because of the Puerto Rican bureaucracy, not because of the Trump administration’s failure. His visit was delayed so as not to interfere with the rescue and repair effort, as Biden’s visit was to the Surfside building collapse, but Biden was praised and Trump condemned. Although Surfside just occurred, the media’s approach and the Democrat’s description was entirely opposite. The effort of Hillary Clinton’s charity was useless and negligible and it was coupled with its mismanaged financial aid that never reached Puerto Rico and stayed in her foundation, but no mention was made of that failure as well, as far as I could tell. I could go on, but my intention was not to bash the book, just to explain why I did not finish reading it, and why I would not recommend it. Others may enjoy the progressive, one-sided message.
The failures of the left wing of society with regard to education, employment, unions, improved healthcare, and other social programs, were never condemned as poorly run socialist, left-wing government programs, but rather as programs that only needed more controls by the people and government, and less by corrupt corporations and government officials. I believe that the most qualified, not the most diverse of the population, should be hired to accomplish the most for society and our country. If that were the goal, I believe that our country would prosper, and all of us would benefit from the results of our own hard work with responsibility for our own needs. I believe in capitalism. There is a reason that the tired and poor clamor to come here, and it isn’t because it is like their own failed country, so why do they eventually try to reproduce it?
I was so looking forward to reading this book because I thought it would be a factual representation of what is currently occurring and what I could expect in the future, as a result. I thought it would represent the lawlessness and irresponsibility, the pandemic and the economy. Instead, I found it to be a primer about left wing policies and almost nothing but propaganda, which perhaps, I should have expected. The book was written by an author who receives accolades from the progressive world, who is also a journalist that works for a left-wing, leaning newspaper, and is a Democrat who also served in Obama’s administration.
I should have realized that, in this, our current divided country, a left-wing author would at every turn, in any way possible, condemn contemporary capitalism and praise socialist programs. He encourages these programs even though their power and corruption providing them with excessive control, has seeped into many of the unions, corporations and government and has caused them to fail in their original purpose. One suggestion is made, in some circumstances, to remove those who have made themselves rich and self-important, and instead reinstall the workers at the top of the structure, since it is believed that they will be better able to promote and accomplish their demands. Yet the flip side is that they may be unqualified, and therefore I believe that their demands may not always represent the larger picture and might be based on selfish, sometimes irresponsible demands not good for America. Qualifications rather than diversity should be of the utmost importance.
In general, I am not in favor of big government, social media or unions, just for their own sake. Some small businesses often cannot survive their demands. It is the owner of a small business who takes all the risk, but it is the owner who is also expected to share the profits he earns, equally, with the workers who assume no more responsibility than their job description. I speak from experience since my father was driven out of business by the demands and strikes of unskilled workers who made more than he did when he finally had to walk away from the business he started. The teacher’s union is a perfect example of a union’s greed and corruption causing it to fail in its purpose. Students in America seem to receive a terrible education from unqualified and poorly educated teachers who do hardly anything but indoctrinate students with their personal propaganda. Yet these same teachers go on strike for benefits they claim will improve education, while they really demand benefits that they knew they were not entitled to when they took the job. Corporations may have grown too large, and may have too much control, but I believe that it is the fault of government regulators who refuse to rein them in and control their power because they indirectly benefit from that power. If government becomes too big and top-heavy, it does not fairly represent the people. So, while the corruption that has seeped into unions and government programs is criticized somewhat in the book, the overall emphasis seems to be on the continuation of a more progressive government with poorly run social programs, that promote sometimes undeserved worker’s benefits and community activism. The overall theme of the book feels like an effort to change America into a socialist country, although they have failed the world over. It encourages constant displays of outrage which boggles my mind.
So, I am indeed sorry, that about half way through, I decided to skim the rest of the book and had no change in my opinion. Whenever possible, the author’s left-wing, biased approach to policies somehow praised even the failed left wing programs and made a special point of criticizing and demonizing policies from the right side of the political spectrum, Although they were not always identified as such, they would be immediately identified by anyone who knew the difference. Without mentioning the Trump Presidency, the effort to help Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria was described as a massive failure. There was no attempt to present the truth. Supplies were not delivered because of the Puerto Rican bureaucracy, not because of the Trump administration’s failure. His visit was delayed so as not to interfere with the rescue and repair effort, as Biden’s visit was to the Surfside building collapse, but Biden was praised and Trump condemned. Although Surfside just occurred, the media’s approach and the Democrat’s description was entirely opposite. The effort of Hillary Clinton’s charity was useless and negligible and it was coupled with its mismanaged financial aid that never reached Puerto Rico and stayed in her foundation, but no mention was made of that failure as well, as far as I could tell. I could go on, but my intention was not to bash the book, just to explain why I did not finish reading it, and why I would not recommend it. Others may enjoy the progressive, one-sided message.
The failures of the left wing of society with regard to education, employment, unions, improved healthcare, and other social programs, were never condemned as poorly run socialist, left-wing government programs, but rather as programs that only needed more controls by the people and government, and less by corrupt corporations and government officials. I believe that the most qualified, not the most diverse of the population, should be hired to accomplish the most for society and our country. If that were the goal, I believe that our country would prosper, and all of us would benefit from the results of our own hard work with responsibility for our own needs. I believe in capitalism. There is a reason that the tired and poor clamor to come here, and it isn’t because it is like their own failed country, so why do they eventually try to reproduce it?
March 7, 2023
Great book, well written & researched.
This book covers the history, present and how the future of the social contract between governments, corporations and the people looks depending on the direction it adopts.
Extremely well researched. I think every world leader should be made to read this book to give a wide overview on the global landscape and how their country fits in, not just today but in a future of changing climate, tax evasion, industry, AI, surveillance, unrest with their people and how they look to shape their nation.
If we don’t act now, could it be that China and Africa take over the world whilst the rest of us fall behind and into decline? They will certainly be / continue to be the biggest countries by population in the world and a big influence to us all.
Some surprising information and facts are contained in this book.
I think Alex Ross may be my favourite author based off this book and Industries of the Future.
This book covers the history, present and how the future of the social contract between governments, corporations and the people looks depending on the direction it adopts.
Extremely well researched. I think every world leader should be made to read this book to give a wide overview on the global landscape and how their country fits in, not just today but in a future of changing climate, tax evasion, industry, AI, surveillance, unrest with their people and how they look to shape their nation.
If we don’t act now, could it be that China and Africa take over the world whilst the rest of us fall behind and into decline? They will certainly be / continue to be the biggest countries by population in the world and a big influence to us all.
Some surprising information and facts are contained in this book.
I think Alex Ross may be my favourite author based off this book and Industries of the Future.
January 12, 2022
Oh, this is good. A little frustrating, anger-inducing, sad, but also so illuminating, edifying & hopeful. I am sending copies to all my kids because the next generation will have the power to make some significant choices & changes - and they will need this information. Hard read, must read.
December 17, 2021
A well researched discussion of the history and challenges facing the social contract that is at the intersection of companies, government and the people. The change from stakeholder focus to shareholder focus since the 70's has altered the way wealth is distributed and reduced the long term focus of many business moves while multinational companies have gained influence at the expense of countries and governments. Tax avoidance and evasion have shaped the economies of whole countries and let many companies such as Apple and Google avoid paying taxes with paper transactions that involve them essentially paying themselves. The discussion of the clash of ideologies between closed and open economic systems that is going on around the world since the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of China and the technologies that allow so much observation and control was disturbing. A lot of good information presented in a clear and easy to read style made this a quick read. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.
January 28, 2022
Knowledge dump! I swear the more I learn about economics and policy the more fuckin radicalized I get! Key things that blew my mind: stakeholder capitalism vs shareholder capitalism and how we got so far into shareholder capitalism in the US, how stock buybacks work, tax evasion (illegal) vs tax avoidance (legal!!), and the examples Ross gives of of different social contracts around the world. I love how he sums it up at the end: if the US doesn’t update the social contract, the 2020s will be filled with RAGE… amen!
November 20, 2021
Really good book. Ross traces the issues surrounding shareholder capitalism, modern taxes and corporations, and the battle between open and closed systems in a meticulous manner that unearths some possible ways forward. It's not a rosy book, but neither is it complete doom and gloom. Instead it leaves me with the sense that although closed systems may seem tempting due to the stability and inherent efficiency they seemingly have to offer, the best version of an open system will come out on top as long as we put in the work to achieve it.
I like how he framed these issues around the idea of what we want an updated 21st century social contract to look like. Relegating shareholder capitalism and replacing it with stakeholder capitalism seems like the logical first step, one which will allow democratic governments to compete against authoritarian ones with technological and economic efficiency. Ross makes other implicit arguments about things like climate change and social cohesiveness throughout the book, all weaved together through this main thread.
One of the best "what's going on in the world today and how can we fix it" books I've read recently.
I like how he framed these issues around the idea of what we want an updated 21st century social contract to look like. Relegating shareholder capitalism and replacing it with stakeholder capitalism seems like the logical first step, one which will allow democratic governments to compete against authoritarian ones with technological and economic efficiency. Ross makes other implicit arguments about things like climate change and social cohesiveness throughout the book, all weaved together through this main thread.
One of the best "what's going on in the world today and how can we fix it" books I've read recently.
November 24, 2021
Ross explains the effects of stock buy-backs, tax dodging of corporations, the lack of labor unions on our economy and our democracy. The examples are detailed, interesting and relevant. His conclusions are well supported by these examples. Hope hangs by such a slender thread that any of his ideas will be adopted. This is a worthy read/listen for anyone concerned about our democracy and the huge gap in economic inequality.
February 28, 2022
The author does a tremendous job of articulating many of the concerns and admittedly, frustrations, I have with modern society (and I'm sure it's not just me). It starts with our economic system and its obvious flaws. But rather than an impractical burn-it-all revolution approach, the author identifies a collection of factors that have led us to where we are and suggests concrete, if not simple solutions. These include a series of changes that would mitigate income inequality, repair dysfunctional institutions, improve the broken global tax system, and ultimately restructure the social contract between us citizens and the government. For combating these challenges, the book offers examples of different nations' strategies, the best of which could be combined to improve our future. What I appreciate most is that the author stays objective in his assessment -- no partisan blame games, just the state of our world and what can be done to fix it. I don't even think any political parties or presidential administrations are mentioned. My only criticism is the kinda lame title, but the book delivers far more than it promises.
August 19, 2022
Things are a mess, by design, for the benefit of a very tiny number of malefactors of great wealth, at the expense of everyone else. This is fixable. But to fix it, you need to start by diagnosing the problem correctly and then looking at examples of successful approaches for solutions. Having rules to make things work better for society as a whole would still let rich people be very rich, so it's a win/win. Spiraling down into chaos eventually hurts everyone so that's a lose/lose. What will we do?
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